Federal Updates 6/6/25
Potential VA staffing cuts of up to 80,000 jobs (approximately 20% of the workforce as of 2020) have triggered coordinated protests of Veterans and their families around the country. (Newsweek)
Medicare is a Target as Senate GOP Faces Megabill Math Issues (Politico)
Senate Republicans are eyeing possible Medicare provisions to help offset the cost of their megabill as they try to appease budget hawks who want more spending cuts embedded in the legislation.
In a reversal, the Trump administration restores funding for women’s health study (OPB)
The Trump administration is restoring financial support for a landmark study of women’s health, an official said Thursday, reversing a defunding decision that shocked medical researchers.
Catchup posts from 5/30 (conference week!)
Kennedy and Trump Paint Bleak Picture of Chronic Disease in U.S. Children (NY Times)
A White House report blames a crisis of chronic illness on ultraprocessed foods, chemical exposures, lifestyle factors and excessive use of prescription drugs, including antidepressants.
RFK Says COVID Shots No Longer Recommended for Kids, Pregnant women (NPR)
The federal government has removed COVID-19 vaccines from the list of shots recommended for healthy pregnant women and children, federal health officials announced last week. Pushback from the medical community has already led to some hedging on this point, but final status is unclear.